Session 9.1: Evaluation of the use of peer support groups to facilitate confidence in communication skills for university assessment classroom activities and clinical practice in BSc Hons Physiotherapy students
Health
Mrs Wendy Munro and Ms Tamara Brown University of Salford
Effective communication skills in the workplace are essential for achieving the best outcomes for service users collaborative working and to facilitate employability of graduate Physiotherapists. Development of these skills is inherent to teaching and learning practices within the University of Salford on the BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy programme. Despite this some students still lack confidence in their ability to speak publicly in class to service users and clinicians whilst on placement and during university live assessment. The aim of this session is to present an evaluation of the use of peer support groups to facilitate confidence in communication skills. The objectives are to outline the peer support group process the effect on student’s confidence in public speaking as measured by the modified confidence in public speaking questionnaire and to provide a qualitative evaluation of the students’ perceptions of the experience as both participants and mentors.
Session 9.2: “Against the grain”: accepting that facilitating learning means that at times we need to adapt our preferred teaching styles
Social Work and Social Policy
Mrs Kay Wall University of Worcester
This paper will explore the need to move beyond our usual default teaching style with particular reference to educating student social workers in the workplace. Moreover it will include discussion regarding the impact of our personal feelings on teaching and assessment of students in the workplace drawing on the concept of emotional intelligence. It will draw on a recent case example of working with a student whose personal characteristics and learning style conflicted with my own preferred style of delivery and indeed challenged my own professional persona. It will explore concepts of power and the need to work in partnership to create a ‘safe place’ for learning and assessment. Drawing on the ideas of the 'culture of human interchange' and a democratic pedagogical approach it will demonstrate how the willingness to change and adapt can indeed contribute to our own professional development as facilitators of learning.
Session 9.3: Nearly Qualified? Approaching employment? Celebrate success and ease transition!
Nursing and Midwifery
Mrs Lisa Abbott and Mr Robert Mapp Birmingham City University
This presentation will share an innovative way of celebrating students success and easing student transition into employment whilst developing a sense of community and belonging with students who are about to graduate and become Alumni. We will showcase a ‘snap shot’ of the Nearly Qualified events and our experiences to inspire delegates to consider student ‘outduction’ and ways to maximise this final opportunity to engage with students.
Session 9.4: Collaboration project to embed skills for employability
Social Work and Social Policy
Gabrielle Hesk Andrea Stanley Caroline Davies Jim Moores Joanne Sharples Phil Moses and Marie Shahin The University of Salford and Social Care Network Solutions Ltd
By listening to the voices of employers and students a unique collaboration between The Social Work Directorate at the University of Salford and Social Care Network Solutions Ltd (SCN) aims to address skill development needed to enhance employability.
A ‘core skill’ identified is the use of electronic management information systems. Students need to develop recording skills in order that they can deliver and evidence 'high quality person centred care and support' in practice. Skills for Care (2014:3)
Enhancement is required to enable students to improve their ability to reflect self-manage gain understanding of key policies i.e. Data protection Bridgstock (2009) whilst gaining confidence in understanding organisational expectations of this skill Knight and Yorke (2004).
This paper explores how we have introduced students to SCN’s electronic recording methods used by Health and Social Care agencies and our aim to embed this in future teaching and learning.
